Kelly sisters receive RIIL's Most Courageous Award

April 6, 2014

Waleska Kelly, left, and her twin sister Francheska, were presented with the Most Courageous Award at a banquet this past Thursday night. Francheska attends Tolman High while Waleska goes to Davies Tech. PHOTO BY ERNEST A. BROWN

PAWTUCKET â€“ No high schooler wears the badge of courage better than the Kelly twins, former Davies Tech student-athlete Waleska and Tolman Highâ€™s Francheska.

It was back in July that Waleska, the elder by a few minutes, suffered a stroke following a summer league basketball game. Through several confusing, worrisome months for the sisters, their family members, friends, teammates and mentors, Waleska now is back on track and enjoying things most of her peers take for granted.

She nevertheless missed out on playing and captaining her Patriotsâ€™ hoop and softball squads, and that hurt her deeply.

As for her younger twin, Francheska spent so much time transporting Waleska to and from doctorâ€™s appointments, revised schooling at the renowned Sargent Center in Warwick and other medical/rehabilitation visits, she became academically ineligible to represent the Tigersâ€™ girlsâ€™ basketball team.

She too had been named a co-captain for her superlative skills and mentoring instincts.

Waleska admitted back in December she felt guilty about her sisterâ€™s inability to compete, especially when she couldnâ€™t, either, but both have been rewarded for their consummate caring efforts to help each other.

Last Thursday night at the West Valley Inn in West Warwick, the duet received the prestigious â€śMost Courageous Athleteâ€ť Award from Rhode Island Interscholastic League officials at a banquet recognizing the stateâ€™s best in several categories.